Both County Hall and the nearby court building have been emptied out as police investigate the incident.

Around 200 people are out on the street and a cordon of around 400 metres has been put in place.

According to deputy council leader Cllr Bernie Attridge, a call was received by the council's Flint Connects service, in which the caller suggested there was a bomb in the building.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "We were alerted to the incident by Flintshire County Council at 11.34am today. Officers are in attendance and the Flintshire County Council County Hall has been evacuated as a measure of precaution.

"Everyone is safe and well.

"Further investigations are underway."

The first workers inside the building knew anything was amiss was when a fire alarm activated and the building was evacuated.

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Workers told the Daily Post they had been "left in the dark" over what was going on, although rumours swirled it was a bomb scare.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "We left the building as we normally do when the fire alarm goes off but we weren't allowed back.

"We had heard it maybe a bomb scare but we don't know any more than that."

At one point a fire engine was let through the police cordon and headed in the direction of County Hall.

Later council chiefs allowed the evacuated workers to go into Mold to get something to eat and drink but not to go home.

Earlier today deputy council leader, Bernie Attridge, had tweeted there was a bomb scare.